Home in concert in the early 1970s
The band Home don’t get mentioned very often these days, but they were great live and on record. Home existed only for a short few years between 1970 and 1974, and toured quite a lot during that period. A few of my mates were big Wishbone Ash fans, and also got into Home around the time of their second album in 1972. I think they saw some similarities between the bands, and I think we also saw Home supporting Wishbone Ash at one point. One of them bought the new album (which was their second album) and we played and played it, trying to learn the guitar parts. Of course, we weren’t to know it at the time, but Home guitarist Laurie Wisefield was to go on to join Wishbone Ash in 1974 as replacement for Ted Turner. I saw Home in concert at least four times, and possibly more. I remember concerts at Sunderland Locarno, Sunderland Poly, and as support act for Mott the Hoople and for Wishbone Ash. Live the band had great songs written by singer and front man Mick Stubbs, strong harmonies, and exquisite guitar work from Laurie Wisefield. The programme here must have come from one of the gigs in Sunderland. Standout tracks for me at the time were: “Dreamer”; “Fancy Lady, Hollywood Child” and “Baby Friend of Mine” all of which feature on their second album. Their third and final album “The Alchemist” is often hailed as a progrock classic. From the progarchives site: “it was however the third album, “The Alchemist” which was the band’s masterpiece. This concept album is one of the forgotten gems of prog, telling a tale of supernatural events and the reaction of those placed in fear by them. Musically, the album sees the band taking an enormous leap forward.” Drummer Mick Cook went on to join the Groundhogs, and bass player Cliff Williams went on to john AC/DC and remains with them until this day. Mick Stubbs and Mick Cook have both now sadly passed away. If you get the chance listen to their second album or The Alchemist. I have the second album on vinyl; I should really set about getting a copy of their other two albums.
7 Mar
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Mitch on March 8, 2013 at 9:27 am
Great band.
I saw Home at Newcastle City Hall on Friday 21st September 1973 – support was from Al Matthews.
This was a hurriedly arranged ‘one off’ rehearsal for The Alchemist tour.
I recall the City Hall being less than half full. I still have the ticket which is a yellow card rather than the usual City Hall type
ticket.
The main set was the entire Alchemist album and encores were Dreamer and Lawdy Miss Clawdy / Roll Over Beethoven.
Posted by vintagerock on March 8, 2013 at 9:41 am
Hi I wasn’t at that gig; wish I had been; it sounds great! Peter
Posted by Neil Thompson on March 12, 2013 at 11:40 pm
I knew Mick Cook and Mick Stubbs – they were lovely people and are both sadly missed.
Posted by John on August 5, 2014 at 11:02 am
Nice to read about which for me was one of the most underated bands in the early Seventies, tremendous individual talent, which proved itself by band members moving on to play with some truly class acts, like AC/DC, Wishbone Ash and Tina Turner ( Laurie Wisefield ) …Just one correction the band actually released 3 albums, the first one being “Pause for a Hoarse Horse”, then “Home” and finally “The Alchemist”, all fine well written albums in their own right. Mick Stubbs was a very creditable song writer.
Posted by vintagerock on August 5, 2014 at 11:04 am
Many thanks John I’ll correct the reference to two albums Cheers Peter